SUSPENSIONS LINKED TO PORN

Nine middle-school boys allegedly watched it on cellphones in class

Nine students were suspended from a San Diego middle school after their peers reported a group of boys watching pornography on cellphones in class.

According to staff emails exchanged Friday between teachers and administrators at Bell Middle School in Paradise Hills, the school and district’s response to the incident is causing division.

Theater teacher Hale Maher wrote, “I have had my students come up to me and ask horrible questions about what happened... Our job is to protect children. This issue is dividing our faculty. Many of us are outraged yet we keep silent.”

Frank Kemerer, associate director for legal research and academics at the University of San Diego’s Center for Education Policy and Law, has written about increased student technology and the challenges it creates, including access to pornography.

“It’s an emerging issue and it’s a cause of concern,” Kemerer said.

The Watchdog reviewed written testimonials by 22 students in the seventh-grade, all-boys English class.

According to the statements, a group of boys sat at their desks viewing pornography on their cellphones and masturbating while the teacher sat at his desk.

Several of the students raised their hands to report the behavior, and nothing was done, according to the written statements and one student interviewed by The Watchdog.

According to the student, the teacher said he would give the students referrals to the office if he caught them, before returning to a book he was reading at his desk. The student said everything was in plain view, had the teacher glanced in the direction of the activity.

“They weren’t even trying to hide it at all,” the student told The Watchdog. “It really made me and the other students mad that he wouldn’t do anything about the things happening in the class and it was affecting our education and it was nasty, also.”

San Diego Unified School District officials declined to discuss the incident or the culpability of teacher Ed Johnson beyond a brief statement.

Andra Donovan, deputy general counsel for the district, wrote in an email May 29, “We cannot tell you the reasons for the suspensions, or whether further action is being taken with respect to any particular suspension. With respect to Mr. Johnson, all we can tell you is that he is employed by the District and remains assigned to Bell Middle School. His schedule has not changed.”

Johnson has not responded to requests for comment. A union representative is rallying support for Johnson against unspecified repercussions.

“Some of us are collecting signatures of support for Ed Johnson,” Bill Daniel, special education teacher and school site union representative, wrote in an email to colleagues on Friday. “We only want to support him as a friend and colleague. We are making no judgments. Our petition only states that there appears to be rush to judgment based on questionable statements made by very young children.

Vice Principal Kathleen Gallagher replied by email, “The statements submitted by students should not be discounted based on their age. The process of collecting statements and interviewing students was conducted consistent with district procedures, each one independently of every other one. Because nine of our students were suspended as a result of this incident, it is difficult for me to swallow the statement about not making judgments. Students were held accountable for their part of this problem.”

San Diego resident Joanne Cruz’s son was a student in Johnson’s class this year and said parents have not received any information about what happened.

“Even if there are 20 to 30 students in a class, you are still aware of what your students are actually doing,” Cruz said. “That’s something parents want to hear about... The families should be informed of what is happening in the schools... At least letting the parents know something happened like that.”

Asked if students were adequately protected in the class and if the teachers union is coordinating an effort centrally to support Johnson, union President Bill Freeman said, “I can’t respond to your question because this situation is under investigation.”